PROTESTERS are confident of staging a David and Goliath-type battle at a public inquiry into plans to create Britain's first underground chemical waste dump.

A Government inspector will assess Minosus' application for the Winsford Rock Salt Mine at a public inquiry on November 6.

The company plans to dump hundreds of tonnes of chemical and industrial waste from all over the North West into the No. 4 mine shaft at Jack Lane, Moulton.

But it has faced fierce opposition from residents who, together with the Chronicle, have forced the Government's hand into holding the public inquiry.

Members of RAMP (Residents Against Mine Pollution) were out in forced at a pre-inquiry meeting at Wyvern House on Monday.

The meeting set the stage for the inquiry by formulating the plan of action for the proceedings.

The Government inspector, representatives of Minosus and RAMP members were joined by representatives of the county council, borough council, Environment Agency, parish councils, Friends of the Earth, Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien, and other concerned residents.

'Minosus can afford the most expensive solicitors and barristers so we are really up against it. We are struggling with funds because we are purely reliant on donations. People have been very generous but there's only so much you can give.'

She added: 'But we feel quite confident, particularly with all the other groups objecting.

'Each group has their own expertise and it would be great if we could all join forces to fight together. Put it this way, if you've got five battalions joining together you've got an army.'

The new chairman of RAMP is Rosalind Cushing, 58. Mrs Cushing's house backs onto the mine shaft and she has personal experience of asbestos poisoning.

She said: 'My husband died of industrial disease and so I'm quite concerned about the people who are going to be working down there. You don't know what they are going to be dealing with.

'At the inquiry I think we've got an uphill struggle because we are the poor relation but I think we are going to get a fair hearing.'

Managing director for Minosus, Roger Shaw, said: 'The meeting was very much about procedures but it demonstrated very effectively that the inquiry will provide for a full examination of the project and it will allow for everyone who has an interest in it to have their democratic say.